Submitted on August 20, 2002 by Jose Luis Gonzalez

Question: While sailing downwind in a strong wind is there any way or system to reef the main and headsail (roller furler) without coming into the wind?

Thanks and regards,
José Luis Gonzalez

Answer: Hi Jose. There is no need to come all the way into the wind if you have a decent luff slide system. If you are using barrel shaped "slug" slides it will be difficult to lower the sail unless the boat is turned to within about 30 degrees of upwind. Flat slides go up and down better than slug slides on reaching angles and track car systems (Tides Marine, Antal, Harken etc) work the best on broad angles. A single line or double line slab-reefing system, with the reef lines run aft to cabin top winches, can be used to grind the sail down to the reef position even if the sail is plastered against the rig. But the procedure is much easier, and easier on your equipment, if the boat is turned toward the wind just enough to lift the mainsail away from the spreaders and stays.

A headsail can be roller furled on any angle as long as the load on the sheet is released. In big breeze it helps to hold the boat on a downwind angle because the apparent wind speed is lower and the headsail can be partially blanketed behind the mainsail.

Regards,
Dan Neri

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